Signaling instrument



Dec. 29, 1925l 1,567,660

A. l., LEGGETT SIGNALING INSTRUMENT Filed March '7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet?,

IN1/EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

. drivers of approaching or -Patented Dec. 29, 1925.. I

UNITED STATES ARTHUR L. LRGGETnbF DENVER, coLoRADo.

vPA'IENT OFFICE. f-

sIaNALINey INSTRUMENT.

. Application mea Maren 7,

cation. My invention relates to signaling 1nstru' ments and more particularly to electrically operated appliances of the type usedv on motor driven vehicles to indicate the direction of travel thereof to pedestrians 'and following conveyances.

It is an object -of the invention to provide in a device of the above described character, an electrical operating system in which the current fiow througha simple circuit controlled by means of a single switch or circuit breaker, will cause a semaphore arm or other indicatory element to be moved alternately to its operative and inoperative positions. l

. Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with the electric circuit of the signaling appliance means which compel the'indicatory elementA to move to and remain in either its operative or inoperative position irrespective of the length of time during which the circuitfis closed by actuation of the swi tch.-

A further object resides infproviding a simple and very compact arrangement of the operating parts ofthe system, in association with means for'fastening it at a side of a motor vehicle', and still other objects reside in details of construction, all of which will be fully disclosed in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention in commercial and' practical form. y

In the drawings in the several views of` which like parts are similarly designated Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of my improved signaling' instrument,- showing the indicatory member thereof in its projected position;l

Figure 2, a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts of the operating mechanism inthe position they occupy when the indicatory member is in its normal inoperative position;

Figure 3, a section taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1:

. motor 1923. Serial 110.623,434.

Figure 4, a section along theline 4-4, Figure 1;

Figure V5asection taken on Athe line 5-.-5, Figure 4, and Figure 6, a sectional elevation looking in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 designates a casing of suitable yform and proportions, preferably .made in tWo complementar parts, which encloses the operating mec anism of the signaling element and which is provided with convenient means such as aclamp 3 for fasteningit to a windshield post or other part of a plied.

vehicleto which the invention is ap- An insulating base 4 fastened yin the casi ing by means of screws 5 supports the coil '6 of a solenoid, and in axial relation thereto, a hollow column 7 which supports a horizontallyI disposed solenoid 8 of smaller proportions.

Thecoil of the last mentioned solenoid is fastened upon the column 7 by means of a strap 9 which has an. upwardly extending arm 10 for its rigid connection at the top ofthe casing. Fastened to the casing at opposite sides of the column, are two plates 12 of non-conducting material which are members of a frame which supports the signaling element Yand the parts of the jelectric controlling mechanism vof the same.' The signaling element consists in the.

form ofthe invention shown in the drawings, of a semaphore arm 13 which 1s pivvses 'oted between the members of the frame by means of. a shaft 14. 4The arm isfpreferably hollow and provided in its sides with openings I15 shaped inthe form of an outwardly pointing arrow and covered by panes of .glass,`mica or other transparent material.

An incandescent lamp V16 in the arm illuminates the coverings of Aits openings to render the signal discernible at night, and this lamp is 'automatically connected in the jecting position as Willhereinafter be more fully described.

The inner extremity of the arm at which it is pivoted on the supporting frame, cons'ists'of a plate 17 providedl with a toothed circuit when the arm is placed in 'its prosegment 18 which meshes with a rack 19 on the core 20 of the solenoid b6,"which slides in the hollow column 7 as best shown in Figures 4'and 5.

They plate has furthermore 'a peripheral notch 21 which is engaged by a .gravitylatch 22 to lock the arm in `its operative position. The latch isA pivoted on the frame as at 23, and it has aslot for its connection withl a head on the lsliding core 240i the horizontally disposed solenoid 8.

A coiled spring 25,111 the 'hollow of the" solenoid coil acts upon the sliding core to yieldingly maintain it' in its projected position, and its head is sufficiently ,narrow with relation to the slot of the latch in which it rextends, to permit of a limited independentmovement of the core when it is drawn inwardly by the magnetic force upon energizati'on of the solenoid.

able feature of the invention.

insulaterl finger-28 which cov-operates with.,

insulated' contact-pins 29 and 3() on the frame to alternately lenergi'zelthe twosole- 25 lnoids as will hereinafter be explained."

lThe larm 27 andthe finger 28 are fastened i l u on a block 31 of non-conductive.'material Ihich is secured at the end of a `plvot pin' w 32 supported in alli'ned openings of themembers 12of the supporting frame, and the shaft carries between saidimembers, a bar 33 which in the"ope'ration of the device,`

serves, to4 .prevent the automatic. switch -from reversing its position until after the circuit 35 of the instrument is reopened in the mainV controlling'switch.-

vThe bar carries at its extremities soft iron armatures 34 and 35 disposed to engage vrespectively with a Lpole piece 36 at the end of the solenoid 8an with an eX osed side of the vertically ysliding core 7 o the solenoid '6, and the lastl mentioned solenoid has a softj i iron shell 37 provided with a7 ole piece 38 for the magnetic induction of t e respective` armature.` l I lJA iatpspring 39 bears'upon the resilient arm 2.7 of the automatic switch to yieldmgly maintain it in engagement with the cam.

, The electric circuit ofthe instrument dial,

grammatically illustrated. in the drawings, comprises in association with a source of electricity 40, a-,conductor 41 'connecting a pole' of the source with the-contact finger 28 lof the automatic switch, conductors 42 and 43 which connect the contacts 30 and 29 rrespectively with the coils of the solenoids 8 and 6, ground connections 44 and 45 at t-he opposite ends ofthe coils,and a ground connection 46 at the opposite pole of the source of electricity- A switch 47, preferably of the push-bulton type. controls the 'flow of current through the circuit and is in practice fastened either on the dash board or the steering wheel of the vehicle or at any other place where it is.withinA convenient reach of the driver.

" The lamp on the semaphore arm is connected in the circuit when the arm is in its signaling position, through the medi-um of an'automatic switch consisting of a contact blade 48 fastened at -one end upon the supporting frame, a contact 49 on the plate,of

vthe signaling arm with which the blade engages when the armis in its projecting position, anda segment 50of non-conductive vmaterial upon. which the blade rides during movement of the arm to its retracted posi- The terminalsg'of the incandescent lamp connect respectively with the contact 49 by means of 'a' conductor 51 and with F the groundv as at 52, and the blade 48 is electrically connectedwith the source of electricity through the medium ofa conductor lVhen the device is lapplied to a motor driven vehicle of theinternal combustion or explosion type, the battery of the ignition and lighting systems of the vehicle, provides a convenient medium for the operation of the signaling arm and the electrical connections between the parts of the mechanism 'of the direction indicator and theA battery as hereinbefore described,l may bel made through the medium of conveniently located conductors of the lighting or ignition systems if so desired. t y l As stated hereinbefore, my' invention is particularly adapted for use as adirection indicator for motor vehicles and as such, it is preferably fastened at the drivers side Vof the vehicle either at the front orat the rear end of the frame, or two or more of the appliances electrically interconnected vfor synchronous operation, may be applied les naling systems of, railways, and that in the place of 'a pivoted signal arm, any visual or audible signal maybe employed within the spirit ofdmy invention.

.Itshould furthermorel be understood that While the operating mechanism as shown and hereinabove described," is4 operative position illustrated in Figure 2,

in which the main switch 47 is open and the contact finger 28 of the automatic switch engages with the Contact. 29 of the solenoid 6.

particularly adapted for use in signaling devices, it may' -be' effectively employed Wherever it is de- The blade 48 of the lamp-switch rests in this position of .the arm, upon the insulating segment 50.- v

Now, if it is desired to move the signalarm'to its operative or projecting osition, the operator closes the switchi? an thereby energizes the solenoid 6 by a flow of current along av course which includes ybeginning at vthe source of. electricity, the con-` ductor 41, the vcontact linger 28 of the autov'matic switch, the conductor 43 connectingr the contact 29 with thevcoil of the solenold' G, and the ground.l

The magnetic, force produced in the so# lenoid, draws its core inwardly and through the instrumentality of the rack and segment" causesthe semaphore arm to move upwardly about it-s pivotal axis until the gravity )latch influenced by the spring pressing .upon the sliding core of the solenoid ,8, enters the notch' in the edge of the plate 17 and thereby locks the arm in its projected position.

The, armature 35 onthe bar' 33 of the automatic'switch will freeze to the core of thesolenoid' as 'long as the current flow is continued so that even though the operator holds the switch inthe closed position begyondthe-'period )required to" move the arm to its projected position, thearm will remain in said' position and can not be 4returned to A lits normal position untilafter the swtch has been released.

During the u'pward movement of the arm 13, the cam 26 lifts the resilient'arm 27 of 35 theautomatic switch in order to reverse the position of' the vfinger 28, but the finger'ispreventedfrom following the movement of' the arm until after the circuit has been reopened in the switch 47 and the bar 33 is in consequence released, when by the resilience of the arm 27 the nger 2S iscomp'elledto move into. engagement with the contact 30 as shown in Figure 1.4

f Then subsequently the circuit Ijs again completedby means-of the switch 47, theA solenoid- 8 is energized and the magnetic force lproduced inthe solenoidV causes its "core to be drawn inwardly against the resistance of the spring 25 with the'result that the catch is disengaged from the notch in.th e pe- It will be understood that owing to the v.resiliency ofthe arm-lof the switch, the cam can under'the above vcircumstan'ces complete its movement-with the arm without effecting the movement of the switchnntil after the circuit has been brokenin the switch 47.

The lamp inthe semaphore arm is in the operation, lighted when the arm'is in i'tssignaling position and extinguished while itl moves to its inoperative position through the instrumentality ofthe switch composed of the moving contact Jwand the relatively stationary blade 4 8.

Having thus described-my invention it will be evident that by completionof a simple circuit through lthe medium'of a single switch the signaling element may be placed in either its operative or vinoperative position irrespective of the period during which the circuit is closed, and that for that reason as well as owing to the simplicity and compactness of its construction, the appliance is particularly adapted for use on motor driven vehicles to indicate the direction of travel l thereof.

It will be understood that the mechanism as shown in the drawings, is subject to variations in the construction and arrangement l of its parts and that such vaiations may be resorted to within the spirit ofthe invent-ion as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i 1. In an electro-mechanical movement,

' the combination with an element adapted to move,` alternately from `one to another of two determinate positions, of an electroof said positions, a latch to hold the element in said position, an electro-magnetic device acting upon the latch, to cause the element to return to the other osition, a circuit for said devices, a switch 1n said circuit, and

an automatic switch adapted toc'onnect said devices alternately in the circuit by movement of said element, and including means controlled by the current'flow through said devices to hold the automatic switch from operating until after the circuit has been reopened in the first mentioned switch.

2. A' signaling instrument comprislng a signal-element mounted to move from a normall inoperative position to a'determinate operative'position, an electro-magnetic def vice adapted to effect said movement of the element, a latch adapted to lock the element'in its operative position, a second electro-magnetic device adapted to release'the 'element by action upon the latch, a circuit for said devices, a switch controlling the cir- /cuit,and an automatic switch adapted to connect Vsaid devices alternately in the cirvcuit b movement of the signal-element and inclu ing means controlled by the current How through the electro-magnets to hold it from operating until after the' circuit has been reopened in the first mentioned switch.

3. A signaling instrument comprising a magnetic device to move the element to one 1 00 i pivoted signal arm having a toothed segment, an electro-magnet including a mov. able member having a rackA meshing with the segment, a latch for locking the arm in an operative position to which it has been moved by the action of the electro-magnet, a second electro-magnet acting upon the latch to release the arm, a circuit for the electromagnets, a switch controlling the circuit, and an automatic switch adapted to connect the electro-magnets alternately in the circuit by movement of the arm, and including a magnetically influenced member which by the current flow through the electro-magnets, holds the automatic switch u on each completion of the circuit until a ter the circuit is re-opened in the first mentioned switch.

4. A signaling instrument comprising a pivoted signal arm, a cam mounted to move with the arm, an electro-magnetic device `for moving the arm to a determinate operative position, a latch for locking the arm in said position, an electro-magnetic device acting upon the latch to release .the arm, a circuitA for the electro-magnets, a switch controlling the circuit, and Aan automatic switch including contacts in electrical connection with the electro-magnets, acontact member connected in the circuit and movable to alternately engage 'said contacts, l'a yieldable member adapted to e'ect said movements of the contact member by rotation of the cam, and a magnetically influenced member which by the current flow through vthe electro-magnets holds the -automatic switch upon eachA completion of the circuit until after the lcircuit is reopened in the first mentioned switch. r

5. A signaling instrument comprising a' signal element mounted to move from a -normal inoperative position to a vdeterminate operative position, an electro-magnetic device adapted to effect said movement of the element, a latch adapted to lock the element in its operative position, a'second electroqnag-l netic device adapted to release the elementl by action upon the latch, a circuit for said devices, a switch controlling the circuit, and an automatic switch adapted to con'- nect said devices alternately in the lcircui-t by movement of the signal-element and including an oscillating bar and armatures thereon disposed vto freeze to the respective electro-magnets and thereby hold the automatic'switch from operationat each completion of the circuit until afterthe circuit is reopened in the first mentioned switch.

6. A signaling instrument comprising a movable signalelement, an electromagnetic trically connected respectively with the electro-magnets, an oscillating contact member connected in the circuit and adapted to engage alternately with said contacts, a yieldable member to effect the movement of the Contact member by the movements of the signal element, and a locking member controlling the movements of the contact member and having armatures co-operative with the electro-magnets to hold the contact-member at each com letion of the circuit Vuntilv after the circuit 1s tloned switch.

7. A signaling mstrument comprising a reopened in the first mensignalv element, .an electro-magnetic device.

adapted place said element in an operatlve condltion, a second electro-magnetic decondition, a circuit for the electro-magnets,

-a switch controlling the circuit, and an automatic switch adapted to alternately .con-A nect the" electro-magnets in the circuit by the operation of the instrument and including meanscontr'olled by the current flow through the electro-magnets to prevent the .vice -for maintaining the element in said operation of the Vautomatic switch at each completion of the circuituntilafter the eircuit is reopened in the first mentioned switch.

- `In testimony whereof I have afiixed signature. lARTHUR L LEGGETT. 

